Human Features
The GLP tackles innovations in human genetics and biotechnology. We highlight the work of our own writers, as well as that of contributors from around the Web. The GLP does not take a position on genetics-related issues; any opinions expressed belong to the authors.
Categories include:
- CRISPR and gene editing
- Gene therapy
- Stem cell research
- Genetic diseases
- Synthetic biology
- Epigenetics
- Biodrugs (pharmacogenetics)
- Personal genomics
- Ancestry and evolution
- Ethics and regulations
What are the odds? Family celebrates birth of 13th consecutive son
Beyond X and Y chromosomes, scientists postulate genes and environmental exposures play a roll in making sons or daughters more ...
Genetics of depression: Could a test have prevented the Germanwings catastrophe?
Major depression affects an estimated 10 percent of the population and often runs in families. Could a genetic test could ...
Sustainable household products? Not if anti-GMO “green” groups have their way
The latest “green” household cleaning products are using cutting-edge biotechnology to become more environmentally friendly—but criticism from “green groups” could ...
More mystery about Neanderthal and modern humans: How reliable is ancient DNA analysis?
Modern humans share swaths of DNA with long-extinct Neanderthals. But what does this mean? New and complicated dating techniques and ...
Can’t have a baby? Is choosing your child’s genetic parents’ characteristics racism, vanity or eugenics?
Many people choose gametes--donated eggs and sperm--so that their child will look like them but also have a certain IQ ...
Using the human mind to control how genes work
Combining two technologies –optogenetics and neuroelectromechanical interfaces — researchers based in Switzerland and France have demonstrated a means for control ...
Fresh human eggs for sale: The hot, new college job
College is expensive and student loans take ages to pay back. Here's a unique solution: sell your body. No, not ...
Is CRISPR gene editing advanced enough to warrant human testing?
Some experts say CRISPR-edited humans could be here in 5 years, but scientists are quickly moving to self-regulate experimentation with ...
Gut bacteria easy scapegoat to explain diseases, but connections hard to prove
Blamed simultaneously for obesity, diabetes, bowel disease and even Alzheimer’s the colonies of bacteria that live in our gut get ...
Ethical and science conundrum: Did reporters, scientists miss nuances of embryo gene-editing story?
Report from China of the first genetically modified human embryos using gene editing technologies has resulted in a collective response ...
Precision medicine revolution hits cost and tech barriers
Tailoring medicine to our personal DNA once promised revolutionary treatments and near miracle cures, but at the intersection of health, ...
Working woman’s dilemma: Freeze your eggs or freeze your career?
If you're a woman in your late twenties or beyond, if you have no serious life partner, or if you ...
“Orphan Black” is back! Reflections on reproductive cloning and eugenics
The Clones are Coming: Airing on BBC America, the popular show Orphan Black already has included a goldmine of conversation ...
Zuckerberg-Chan? Moonves-Chen? Jewish-Chinese intermarriage has ancient precedents
When Facebook's co-founder Mark Zuckerberg's married Priscilla Chan, it highlighted a growing and seemingly recent trend: Jewish men marrying Asian ...
Game of Life and Death: Can you dare the odds and make it past 100?
Washington Post releases a new interactive feature online that delves into 7 ways medical technology has evolved over the past ...
What rocks women? Evolution suggests tall guys with hot cars
In prehistoric times, the more dominant male was the more successful hunter, and he was physically stronger than most other ...
Sex with robots? Androids are coming to our bedrooms and boardrooms
In the near future, people will interact with androids, converse with them, even have sex with them and artificial intelligence ...
Might astronauts bring back a deadly disease from Mars?
While it's possible that a human pathogen might exist on Mars or on another alien world , the extraterrestrial environment ...
Invasion of alien microorganisms: Humans are a walking petri dish, and our genes have been infiltrated
From childhood, we're taught to think of microorganisms as entities apart from us. But they are are really a major ...
Can biomedical data be boiled down to Amazon.com-style recommendations?
Citizen scientists and research startups have begun to play an important role in creating new data sets for biomedical researchers ...
Chip off the old block? Fathers pass along more of their DNA, disease problems and all
We receive an equal amount of raw DNA from our fathers and mothers, but dad's genetic trust fund comes with ...
Space twins: Scott Kelly’s one-year space mission could yield genetic bounty
On a one-year space mission, astronaut Scott Kelly will be the subject of medical and genetic experiments while his identical ...
You light up my life: High tech gene applied to erectile dysfunction
More than half of men over age 60 have experienced the issue at some time, so if it does happen ...
Buy your telomere testing kit here! Evidence based or psuedo-science?
Companies are soon to release at-home telomere testing for consumers who want to track their cellular age. But the science ...
Life on Mars? Will we find it? Will we colonize the Red Planet?
Discovery of Martian life could provide us unprecedented insight into life's origins, and maybe help us understand how we can ...
Autism: No, it’s not caused by glyphosate or circumcision, but is likely in our genes
Vaccines, glyphosate herbicide, chemtrails and even circumcision have been blamed for the increase in autism cases over the years. But ...
Have a rare disease? Fund your own clinical trial
With research funding cuts on the rise and clinical trial spots running short, people are finding new ways to support ...
